Page 33 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
His eyes opened, and the blue one glinted at her. She had to fight back a smile as he said, “Not as terrible a mood as mine.”
“A strange mood, then,” Helena said. “More thunder snow—or a mix of rain and snow, it seems.”
“’Tis the ocean,” Damien said. “Stirs them up, gives them too much power.”
“Of course,” Helena murmured. “Do you like the ocean? Sailing? You mentioned Odysseus, who is the most famous of sailors.”
“Aye, I do, which I am glad of,” Damien said, his eyes half-lidded, his words a touch remote. As though he were speaking more to himself than her. “I think it’s because the ocean brought me home that I understand the waters and ken that despite the storms, the great waters are consistent in their rhythms. Or perhaps it is just boyhood love of swimmin’ and boats.”
Helena smiled as relief washed over her. “I look forward to learning about the waters around our home.”
“Hmph, aye. I shall have to teach ye, or risk ye becomin’ a selkie,” Damien murmured, and his eyes closed. Now Helena smiled wider, and he shook his head. “Damn it all, ye tricky creature.”
She gave him a puzzled look, for his eyes were still closed. “Pardon?”
“I can sense yer satisfaction from here,” Damien said and opened his eyes, sitting up. “Ye distracted me—successfully.Again.” He gave her a mock glare as she grinned impishly at him. “Aye, ye have a heavy hand, Helena, but damn it all if it works.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I didnae thank ye,” Damien retorted, then he nodded toward the shelves. “But I shall. Tomorrow, I’ll find all me favorites. Might take a bit of time.”
“Favorites?” Helena echoed.
He gave her a small, rueful smile, but it was a smile, nonetheless. “When ye asked me that, I confess I was in a brown study, trying to pick just one. ‘Tis impossible. Although, I will ask ye to do the same.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “You want to read my favorites?”
“Aye,” Damien said.
“I’m not sure you have them, but I’ll?—”
“We’ll get them, then,” Damien said.
Helena’s hands fisted into her dressing gown. “Do you mean it?” she asked, afraid that she’d misunderstood. He couldn’t mean?—
“Yer books, lass. We’ll get ‘em all. I’m sure ye have some at home that ye want, and then we can have a whole shipment as soonas the roads and the seas clear. A lot of merchants pass through here—never boring.”
Helena could not speak. She could only hold back tears, and herself. She wanted to throw herself into Damien’s arms, or at his feet, and weep with gratitude for his kind gestures that he did so easily and thoughtlessly.
Being thoughtful is simply second nature to him, I think.
“What? Ye are about to become nothin’ but eyes…” he trailed off as he stared at her. “Och, ye arenae wearin’ yer glasses. I hadnae noticed.” His gaze traveled over her. “Another facet.”
“Facet?” Helena touched her face. “I don’t take your meaning.”
“All the ways ye catch the light, Lena,” Damien said in a soft voice that made her toes curl in her boots and her cheeks flush.
She hated how deft he was with his compliments, how he undid her. And at the same time, she was growing to love the thrill that ran through her.
“I hadnae realized—before. But ye hold yerself so still and with so much hope when ye are grateful, when it is a small thing to get ye books.”
“It isnot,” Helena said. She couldn’t help it—she stood up and went to him, then crouched down by his chair. “Damien, I know that I should say that it’s too much, but it’s everything.You are so-so generous. With your every breath, it seems.” Her head dipped, and her hands clutched at the armrest. “I am overwhelmed by your selflessness.”
A low chuckle drifted to her ears, then a hand caught her chin and lifted her face. “Are ye so sure it’s selfless, lass?”
CHAPTER 14
“Yes,”Helena breathed, even as Damien’s callused thumb swept a beguiling line up and down her neck.
